Whether it be THC or CBD, the cannabis and hemp industries continue to create amazing new products with cannabinoids. While innovations are doubtlessly exciting, consumer education sometimes falls behind product development in cannabis and hemp. In particular, many people are still not aware of the difference between THC and CBD.

Importantly, being able to differentiate between THC vs. CBD is critical in distinguishing between marijuana and hemp. In the end, knowing these cannabinoids is also important in understanding the difference between illegal and legal products.

Cannabinoids have gained outstanding traction in the global market, and to continue this trajectory, consumer education is the next logical step in further legitimizing the hemp industry. As such, we thought it beneficial to discuss the nuances of THC vs. CBD in more detail.

What is THC?

THC is an abbreviation for the term “tetrahydrocannabinol.” THC is the most commonly known cannabinoid and it is the chemical responsible for getting people “high” when they consume marijuana. As such, much of the controversy in the modern cannabis and hemp industries has to do with THC.

All medical and adult-use marijuana markets in the United States today are built around THC products. Each U.S. state with legal cannabis has devised careful rules to regulate the production and sale of THC. Even more, THC levels in cannabis plants dictate their legal standing with the federal government.

When hemp was legalized in the 2018 Farm Bill, the FDA stipulated that any cannabis plant containing less than 0.3% THC is legally considered “hemp.” Today, the entire national hemp industry is built upon this ruling. Hemp breeders and farmers work tirelessly to produce quality hemp with low levels of THC and high levels of CBD.

What is CBD?

CBD is an abbreviation for the term “cannabidiol.” CBD was a little-known cannabinoid until the legalization of hemp in the 2018 Farm Bill pushed it into the global spotlight. Unlike THC, CBD does not produce any sort of “high” feeling – although people report that it offers a calming effect when consumed.

Aside from products made from the stalks of industrial hemp plants, CBD is the primary driving force behind the hemp industry we know today. While hemp is legal in the United States, the FDA has not officially sanctioned CBD as a legitimate medicine. As such, companies who label CBD products as medicines or supplements can still face serious legal consequences from the federal government.

CBD vs. THC: Key Differences

Cannabinoids are differentiated from other chemicals in the cannabis plant because they bind with cannabinoid receptors in the human body. While THC and CBD are both cannabinoids, they behave quite differently when consumed by people. The unique effects caused by these cannabinoids are the primary differentiating factors in their legal status.

Chemical Makeup

From terpenes to chlorophyll, the cannabis plant contains an incredible amount of compounds. The U.S. National Library of Medicine website reports that cannabis produces over 400 different chemicals. Of these, the average cannabis plant contains around 60 unique cannabinoids.

While THC and CBD have a similar chemical makeup, the way that atoms are organized in each molecule gives them unique properties when consumed by people.

Psychoactivity

The most defining characteristic of THC is the fact the cannabinoid is considered psychoactive. According to the National Cancer Institute website, a psychoactive compound is “A drug or other substance that affects how the brain works and causes changes in mood, awareness, thoughts, feelings, or behavior.”

One of the primary reasons that CBD has grown so popular is that it is non-psychoactive. Therefore, people can enjoy the benefits of CBD without concern for feeling inebriated.

Potential Medical Benefits

As neither THC or CBD has been officially approved by the FDA as medicine, our knowledge of their medical benefits comes from patient testimonies and early studies. Yet, as our understanding of cannabinoid-based medicines grows, we continuously learn about new potential applications.

  • THC medical benefits: Cancer, HIV, AIDS, glaucoma, irritable bowel syndrome, Huntington’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, and more.
  • CBD medical benefits: Seizures, sleep disorders, chronic pain, anxiety, depression, and more.

Side Effects

Depending on the subject in question, both THC and CBD can have side effects. These side effects vary with intensity from person to person and can be rather unpredictable.

Due to its psychoactive component, THC has far more reported side effects than CBD. Side effects of THC include drowsiness, edginess, red eyes, impaired memory, and lack of focus. CBD users report far fewer side effects than THC users. However, some people experience drowsiness, nausea, dry mouth, or gastrointestinal issues when using CBD.

Drug Testing

When it comes to drug testing, both THC and CBD present unique challenges. Because THC is federally illegal, many businesses and organizations drug test for the cannabinoid. Even if you live in a state where marijuana is legal, you still have to be concerned with THC showing up on a drug test.

CBD is not tested for in drug tests, nor is it scrutinized in most regions of the world today. However, as full-spectrum CBD products contain trace amounts of THC (less than the legal 0.3%), in rare cases they can cause you to fail a drug test.

Final Word: THC vs. CBD

Today, the hemp-derived CBD business is a global juggernaut. In the year 2020, the worldwide CBD market was valued at $2.8 billion. Yet, while CBD products are now readily available at retail and online stores worldwide, most consumers still don’t know much about cannabinoids. In order for hemp to progress, it’s critical we make an effort to educate people on the nuances of the THC vs. CBD discussion.

At High Grade Hemp Seed, we are honored to take part in building the new national hemp industry. Within this spectrum, we feel that teaching people about the benefits and drawbacks of THC vs. CBD is essential. As we learn more about cannabinoids, we can work to further refine dosage levels and match the appropriate compounds with the right ailments.

Please contact us to learn more about cannabinoid research and hemp CBD.

Looking at the hemp industry, it’s incredible to see the amount of development that has occurred since legalization. Excitingly, we have reached a point where cutting-edge plant science is being applied to commercial hemp production. These advancements have opened new doors of understanding on breeding premium CBD hemp strains.

As pioneers of the CBD space, High Grade Hemp Seed has developed an extensive knowledge-base on hemp genetics. To this end, our goal is to help you better understand the technical nuances of choosing hemp seeds. A particularly pressing issue for modern hemp farmers is understanding the F1 and F2 generation definition.

The abbreviations “F1” and “F2” refer to the genetic lineage of a particular hemp plant. More specifically, they describe how many generations of breeding have occurred from the original in-bred genetics from which the hemp plant was derived. This is important because F1 and F2 hemp plants of the same strain can have dramatically different characteristics.

In order to make the best hemp seed purchases possible, it’s critical to educate yourself on the differences between F1 and F2 genetics. Every growing season, countless hemp farmers go broke because they used the wrong genetics. To help ensure your success next growing season, High Grade Hemp Seed put together this brief exploration into F1 and F2 strains.

What do F1 and F2 Mean in Hemp Seeds?

In the world of plant genetics, the acronyms F1 and F2 refer to the genetic heritage of a particular hemp plant.
The term F1 means “first filial generation, or the genetic cross between two genetically distinct plants.” F2 refers to the next generation of hemp plants that results from breeding two F1 plants.

F1 hemp plants are cross-bred from two distinct in-bred lines (IBL) of plants. In hemp cultivation circles, IBL strains are also referred to as “homozygous plants.” These strains are in-bred for uniformity for several generations with the goal of controlling dominant genetic traits. In essence, the hybrid offspring of IBL strains comprise the entire catalog of hemp genetics available today.

F1 genetics are sought after by hemp farmers because these hybrids produce robust and consistent offspring. This predictability in crop performance is a huge asset in commercial hemp production. As such, by purchasing verified F1 strains, you give yourself the best chance of having a good harvest.

 

Why are F1 Hemp Seeds Better than F2?

The reasons why F1 hemp seeds are better than F2 seeds can be explained by how genes express themselves in different generations of cross-bred plants. Importantly, F2 hemp plants often display stunted and abnormal growth due to the expression of recessive alleles.

The encyclopedia definition of allele is as such, “also called allelomorph, [alleles are] any one of two or more genes that may occur alternatively as a given site (locus) on a chromosome. Alleles may occur in pairs, or there may be multiple alleles affecting the expression (phenotype) of a particular trait.”

What’s critical to note here is that recessive alleles can remain hidden in F2 hemp strains for generations. However, when the F2 is bred with the wrong plant, the recessive alleles can surface and wreak havoc on a crop. The worst part being, you won’t have any idea when these recessive traits will surface.
Due to the fact that the genetic expression of F2 hemp plants is so difficult to predict, we also recommend that you don’t attempt to breed them. To illustrate, experts feel “once you get past F1, it becomes really advanced breeding. F2’s can be a big mess if they aren’t done right.”

F1 hemp seeds are better than F2s because they offer more predictable crops. Even more, studies have proven that F1 cross genetics grow more vigorously than more F2 strains. As commercial hemp farming already faces great challenges with weather and bugs, why not eliminate as much risk as possible by using F1 genetics?

What are the Best F1 Hemp Strains?

At High Grade Hemp Seed, all of our hemp strains are F1 hybrids. That being said, you can trust that our hemp seeds and starts will set you up for success next growing season. Even more, you can rest easy knowing you are circumventing the extra problems that come with growing F2 hemp strains.

Here are a few of our most highly sought-after hemp strains:

Cherry Wine

Cherry Wine is one of our most popular CBD strains at High Grade Hemp Seed. This F1 hybrid features uniform hemp plants that consistently produce quality flowers. Even more, Cherry Wine maximizes CBD production while keeping THC levels below 0.03%.

Merlot

Merlot was carefully bred to maximize CBD production as well as robust plant growth. These F1 hemp seeds are a sure bet for a reliable crop of top-shelf flowers. Even more, their strong terpene profile will leave a lasting impression – in both flowers and concentrates.

Trophy Wife

High Grade Hemp Seed puts serious energy into breeding Trophy Wife. This high CBD strain is the result of breeding a homozygous Cherry Wine male with a Wife S1 phenotype. The end result is a vigorous hemp strain that consistently produces CBD-rich flowers.

ArkRyder

ArkRyder is one of the crowning achievements of our breeding program at High Grade Hemp Seed. With robust growth and high CBD ratios, this F1 strain represents the very best in current hemp genetics.

EliRae

Our breeders went above-and-beyond with EliRae, as they fused our foundational feminized hybrids in a single strain. EliRae plants regularly put up 600 gram harvests with an amazing CBD ratio of 20:1.

Contact High Grade Hemp Seed

High Grade Hemp Seed is at the forefront of plant breeding in the hemp industry. Contact Us to discuss our award-winning hemp genetics in more detail.

There are several factors to consider when choosing the best hemp flower strains for your farm. To begin, you should assess whether your target market is in hemp biomass or boutique flowers. After that, we recommend you take a look at the outdoor growing season at your chosen locale. Once you have chosen hemp strains that meet the demands of your cultivation environment, you can focus on important factors such as cannabinoids, THC compliance, and terpene profiles.

Commercial hemp cultivation is a complex process that requires careful consideration of many factors. However, if you pay keen attention to the details and make educated choices, you’re sure to yield a great harvest. For added benefit, appropriate planning when choosing types of hemp flower can protect your operation’s bottom line.

A Quick Look at Hemp Flower vs. Hemp Biomass

You probably know that hemp is an incredibly versatile crop that can be used for thousands of different purposes. Farmers looking to grow hemp will first need to choose what, in particular, they want to harvest. Hemp can be grown for fiber, seeds, or resin (from which CBD or CBG can be extracted).

the best hemp flower strainsGrowing hemp for CBD or CBG can offer a high ROI. Farmers who want to operate large, industrial hemp farms typically choose to harvest hemp biomass. This biomass includes the hemp flower, stalk, and leaves, which are processed and refined together to extract CBD- or CBG-rich resin.

The percentage of CBD or CBG your hemp flowers and/or biomass produces will have a large impact on your ROI, but so will the overall amount of flower your hemp crop produces. If you are looking to sell smokable, boutique-quality hemp flowers, for instance, you want a plant that produces a large number of flowers, as opposed to a plant that is known to have many leaves, which could increase the overall biomass percentage. This is another factor to consider as you compare hemp strains and decide which to grow.

Smaller farmers often choose to harvest hemp flower, which is the bud the hemp plant produces. (Hemp flowers and hemp buds are interchangeable terms.) Hemp flowers can be harvested, cured, and sold as a complete flower. Many customers smoke or vape cured hemp flowers in order to enjoy the relaxing effects of CBD or CBG. Alternatively, processors may purchase dried hemp flowers in order to extract CBD or CBG. Hemp flowers provide a higher percentage of CBD or CBG than hemp biomass.

Types of Hemp Flower & the Growing Season

Different hemp flower strains possess characteristics that may be more or less conducive to your farm and growing season. One of the most important attributes of a hemp strain is its maturation cycle. Farmers who live in areas of the country with a short growing season may do better with hemp plants that mature quickly.

Outdoor hemp farmers in colder regions of the United States must pay particularly close attention to strain selection. That being said, if you plan on cultivating in the Midwest or Northeast, we recommend selecting hemp flower strains that finish well before the autumn freezes arrive. If this is the case, High Grade Hemp Seeds recommends you choose an early finish variety or an autoflower strain. Our Autoflower strain, for example, can be ready for harvest in around 75 days after planting.

Fast-growing hemp strains could also be an ideal choice for farmers with a long growing window and who want to get in a second harvest for the year. In fact, farmers with the benefit of a long growing season can experiment with different types of hemp flower strains. For example, our Red Bordeaux is an ideal choice for farmers interested in staggering their harvests.

 

Robustness

One of the most important factors in hemp strain selection is the overall robustness of the genetics. If your hemp farm operates without the protection of a greenhouse, your crop must be able to withstand several environmental stressors. Depending on where you are located, most outdoor hemp crops are exposed to excessive heat, heavy rain, strong wind, and cold nights.

Outdoor hemp crops are also under constant attack from bugs and pathogens. Especially during flower season, be sure to choose a hemp strain that is not easily susceptible to botrytis (“bud rot”). Unfortunately, it’s often the plants with the densest flowers that fall victim to this awful mold.

Certain hemp strains are more robust than others and can better withstand weather, bugs, and pathogens. Our Berry Blossom strain, for example, is well known for its toughness. When choosing your hemp flower seeds, take a look at their history and how well they’ve held up for other farmers who have used them.

Which Cannabinoid is Best in Hemp Flowers: CBD or CBG?

The hemp industry continues to evolve with consumer demand. Today, the little-known cannabinoid CBG is beginning to gain the attention of the masses. Historically, growing hemp for CBG has been very difficult, because hemp flowers simply don’t produce high levels of CBG.

CBG starts out in the hemp plant as CBGA (cannabigerolic acid). CBGA can then be broken down into a variety of different chemical compounds, which then break down into CBD and THC. This doesn’t leave much CBGA left over to convert into CBG, which is why normal hemp plants can have as little as 1% CBG. That is changing, as new hemp strains, including our Matterhorn CBG, have been selectively bred to produce high levels of CBG.

When you search for hemp seed strains, first decide if you might want to stick with growing hemp for CBD or experiment with CBG hemp. If you want to give CBG a try, then look for CBG strains. No matter which cannabinoid you want to harvest, make sure you choose hemp flower strains that can deliver a high percentage of either CBD or CBG. The more CBD or CBG your hemp flowers produce, the greater return you’ll get on your crop. Our Matterhorn CBG flower can typically produce 15% CBG.

THC Compliance & Hemp Flower Strains

As important as it is to choose hemp flower strains that can produce high levels of CBD or CBG, it’s equally important to ensure that your hemp buds stay in compliance with the law. The 2018 Farm Bill mandated that all industrial hemp plants must stay below 0.3% THC. Going above this level is known as “going hot.” Research from Cornell University determined that seed genetics play a large role in how quickly THC content increases as a hemp plant reaches maturity. When searching for the best hemp buds, check the strain’s history of THC compliance. If your hemp plants run hot before you can harvest them, you will lose your entire crop! This is why choosing the best genetics is an essential part of a successful hemp growing season.

Hemp Flower Strains & Terpene Profile

One of the biggest distinguishing factors between hemp strains is their terpene profile. A hemp flower’s “terp profile” refers to its aromatic qualities. A hemp plant’s terp profile is a huge selling point, as hemp bud smokers will often seek out their favorite flavors.

Hemp plants produce terpenes, which are found in trichomes (tiny hair-like structures around the buds, stems, and stalks of the hemp plant). Hemp plants use terpenes to ward off enemy insects while inviting helpful pollinators. Scientists have discovered over 100 unique terpenes, and fascinating research suggests that terpenes, along with other, lesser-known cannabinoids, may create an “entourage effect” that enhances the effects of CBD or CBG.

When reviewing different hemp flower strains, pay attention to the terpene profiles. Some hemp flowers, for example, offer fruity or floral notes. Others are famous for heavy flavors of skunk, cheese, and even gasoline. Certain customers absolutely love the biggest, boldest skunky hemp flowers.

Here’s a quick list of all the different terp profiles our hemp strains offer:

  • Berry Blossom: Extremely floral; smothered in exotic overtones of candied raspberries and acai berries.
  • Red Bordeaux: Strong overtones of fresh-cut strawberries and crushed lavender with hints of cherry and gasoline.
  • Merlot: A sharp and robust frame of freshly opened tennis balls and orange peel underscored with rich tones of chocolate and cherries jubilee.
  • Autoflower: Sweet and spicy.
  • Cherry Wine: Complex cherry floral frame with pine skunk undertones.
  • Trophy Wife: Heavy notes of cheese and skunk complemented by cherry undertones.
  • Matterhorn CBG: Effervescent notes of citrus, lemon, and lime.
  • Chardonnay: Strawberry rhubarb jam and candied raspberries.

How Do You Find the Best Hemp Flower?

As you may have already inferred, commercial hemp cultivation is a complex affair that requires the careful consideration of many factors. While the process of strain selection may seem daunting, it is extremely important. By taking the right steps before you plant your crop, you set yourself up for success when harvest time finally arrives.

When selecting the best hemp strains for your farm, you must consider whether you want to grow boutique flowers or biomass. With this information in hand, you should assess the growing season in your locale to choose the best strain for the job. Finally, you can narrow down your strain selection with the all-important considerations of cannabinoids and terpenes.

How can you balance all these different features to find just the right hemp strain that will thrive on your farm and give you the highest ROI? A great option is to start by looking for the best hemp flower company and reaching out to their customer representatives. A knowledgeable representative will learn more about your goals, your budget, and your farm and then be able to make recommendations.

Once you have a hemp strain in mind, the next step is to test it out. It’s a good idea to start small for your first hemp harvest. You may even want to plant just a single acre so you can see how the hemp takes to your soil, what your labor needs are, and what the harvesting process is like. If the plant thrives and gives you a good return, it’s time to plant more next year. (Start by reading our 2021 Hemp Growing Guide.)

Have more questions about the best hemp flower online? Contact us today. We’ve been in the hemp genetics and seed business for almost ten years and have worked with leading farmers and researchers to develop our hemp flower strains. Our strains are widely respected and considered foundational in the hemp industry. Just as importantly, our seeds are also planted throughout the country. We can’t wait to hear from you!

The growth of the CBD industry over the past five years is nothing short of amazing. Today, the hemp-derived CBD marketplace is massive, with billions of dollars in annual sales. Some experts believe that the global CBD marketplace could reach $20 billion by the year 2025. However, while the global fascination with CBD can’t be denied, many people don’t know where the cannabinoid originates from.

While there are countless CBD-infused products on the market, most do not realize they are all originally sourced from hemp flowers. Whether it be pet products or topical creams, all CBD products are made from the cannabinoids extracted from flowers. To give you a better idea of where your favorite CBD products come from, let’s explore the topic of hemp flowers.

Hemp Flowers and Cannabis Flowers

A great place to start with learning about hemp buds is by understanding the difference between cannabis and hemp. Importantly, both cannabis and hemp plants contain over 100 different cannabinoids – including cannabidiol (CBD) and cannabigerol (CBG).

The highest quantities of these complex chemicals can be found in the flower or “bud” of female plants. (This is why many farmers choose to plant feminized seeds.) When a female cannabis or hemp plant remains unpollinated, it produces even larger amounts of cannabinoids in its flowers. As such, all cannabis is grown to produce flowers rich in the cannabinoid THC. Similarly, all CBD and CBG hemp plants are grown strictly for their cannabinoid-rich flowers. However, industrial hemp plants are not grown for their flowers, but rather for the fibers in their stalks.

Hemp flower buds differ from cannabis flowers in their THC content. Importantly, all cannabis sativa plants with flowers that contain less than 0.3% THC are legally considered to be hemp. While lacking in THC, hemp buds are rich in CBD and CBG.

Hemp farmers growing hemp for CBD or CBG can purchase seeds specially bred to produce the highest percentages of CBD or CBG as possible. At High Grade Hemp Seed, we recommend such strains as our Berry Blossom CBD strain or our Matterhorn CBG strain.

Growing CBD Hemp Flower vs. Growing Biomass

Hemp farmers who decide to grow flowers instead of biomass will need to take certain precautions. This notion is particularly true when it comes time to harvest the crop. During this phase, biomass growers can use more commercial methods in harvesting, while flower producers must pay more careful attention not to damage the product.

Hemp CBD biomass is harvested and sold with most plant materials included within the product. As such, biomass features precious flowers, as well as relatively cannabinoid-reduced materials such as stems, stalks, and fan leaves. Conversely, hemp buds are harvested, processed, and sold without the other excess plant material. Understandably, flowers sell for over $300 per pound, while biomass generally sells for less than $10 per pound.

At harvest time, those who plan to sell hemp biomass to a refinery or to extract resin on their own from their biomass can cut down their hemp plants using a combine. Hemp flower farmers, on the other hand, need to be much more careful. Hemp buds are delicate and bruise easily. Farmers must harvest flowers by hand, often using labor to cut plants with machetes, tobacco knives, or shears. Harvesting flowers by hand ensures that the trichomes (the resinous glands in the flower that store terpenes and cannabinoids) are not damaged or contaminated.

While hemp biomass can be dried in a matter of days, hemp flowers need to be dried and cured, which can take weeks in a dry facility. Curing flowers will ensure a smooth smoking experience. Many hemp farmers perform the drying and curing process themselves, which takes a lot of careful handling, a well-designed drying facility, and plenty of patience. (Here’s a handy guide to harvesting hemp for biomass or hemp buds.)

Large-scale industrial hemp farmers tend to grow hemp for biomass. Growing hemp flowers takes a lot of extra focus and care, which can be difficult to manage on a large scale.

 

Products Made from Hemp Flower Buds

Anyone who has been paying attention to the health and wellness industry knows that CBD oil is one of the hottest new products. CBG oil has also started to rise in popularity. Resin from the flower is processed and the CBD and CBG-rich oil is extracted and then added to a multitude of products. In contrast, a hemp flower is the unprocessed bud from the hemp plant.

A dried flower contains the full spectrum of the plant’s cannabinoids and terpenes. Consumer demand for smokable hemp flowers is increasing and entrepreneurs are rising to the occasion and producing boutique-quality flowers for the market.

Smokable Hemp Flower

Smoking CBD or CBG hemp flower is becoming more popular. Whether smoked in a bubbler, pipe, or as a pre-rolled (or self-rolled) joint, people enjoy the relaxing, calming effect that CBD and CBG delivers. Vaping flowers using a vape pen is also a popular trend. Those who don’t want the “feel” of smoking hemp buds can vaporize their flowers in a dry herb vaporizer.

Do note that the legality of smokable hemp flowers is under scrutiny in a number of state markets. According to the National Hemp Association, “smokable hemp flower … has a negative perception amongst many lawmakers.” Not only do hemp buds closely resemble cannabis flowers, but when burned, certain cannabinoids like THCA actually become psychoactive. For reasons such as this, many states have opted to make smokable hemp flowers illegal.

If you are planning on growing and selling smokable flowers, it is highly recommended you do appropriate research on the laws of your given marketplace.

What is Smokable Hemp Good For?

Why do consumers love buying and smoking hemp buds?

Cannabinoids without psychotropic effects

Scientists are just beginning to learn how the cannabinoids in hemp plants affect the body’s endocannabinoid system, which helps regulate mood, sleep, appetite, and memory. Many people believe CBD and CBG can offer physical, psychological, and emotional benefits related to the endocannabinoid system. (Here’s what we know about the scientific research on CBD and the scientific research on CBG.)

Hemp flower gives people the ability to take CBD and CBG without any unwanted psychotropic effects. As set out in the 2018 Farm Bill, industrial hemp plants must contain less than 0.3% THC. That’s not enough to make users feel “high.” For those who want the benefits of CBD and CBG while still feeling focused and sharp, hemp flowers are a great option.

Smoking hemp flower is also a good alternative to smoking tobacco cigarettes and may even help users quit cigarettes. An early study found that smokers who wanted to quit smoked cigarettes 40% less compared to a control group when they were allowed to smoke CBD hemp flower instead.

Enjoyable terpenes

One of the most popular benefits of smoking hemp flower (as opposed to consuming CBD or CBG oil) is that hemp buds offer a strong and unique fragrance, known as its terpene profile. The terpene profiles of hemp flower vary dramatically. Some are floral or fruity, while others include heavy notes of cheese, gasoline, and skunk. While that might sound off-putting to the uninitiated, many consumers absolutely love cheesy or skunky hemp flower.

Here at High Grade Hemp Seed, our Merlot strain is famous for its sharp terp profile of opened tennis balls, orange peel, chocolate, and cherries jubilee. Alternatively, our Trophy Wife strain is equally beloved for its deep aroma of cheese and skunk with cherry undertones.

Better bioavailability

Consuming CBD or CBG through a tincture or food slows down the activation rate of the CBD or CBG. On the other hand, smoking hemp flower buds allows the CBD or CBG to pass immediately through the lungs and directly into the bloodstream. Not only does this mean smokers can feel the calming effects of CBD or CBG almost immediately, but it also means they enjoy a higher effect (known in scientific terms as a higher bioactivation rate) because the CBD or CBG isn’t processed in the digestive system or liver first.

Full spectrum experience

The final benefit of smoking hemp flower is that a consumer can enjoy the full spectrum of cannabinoids within the bud. Remember, besides CBD and CBG, a hemp flower contains many different cannabinoids as well as terpenes. Some hemp flower consumers believe that the “whole is greater than the parts,” meaning that the positive effects of CBD and/or CBG can be enhanced in concert with all the other chemical compounds in the hemp flower. This is known as the “entourage effect.”

Should You Grow Hemp Flowers Instead of Biomass?

Growing hemp flowers instead of biomass is not for the faint of heart. However, farmers who are willing to accept the challenges and risks of hemp buds have the opportunity to see a strong ROI on this still-emerging field. More and more consumers are actively searching for smokable flower and entrepreneurs are looking for farmers to partner with to get more products to market. (Check out our ultimate 2021 Hemp Growing Guide.)

If you decide to grow smokable hemp flowers, make sure you research the laws in your state. Regulations change quickly, so make sure your compliance team is up-to-speed on the latest developments.

High Grade Hemp Seed sells a range of feminized hemp seed strains that offer consistently high rates of CBD or CBG and world-class terp profiles. Contact our knowledgeable representatives today to learn more about growing hemp buds

The hemp plant contains over 100 unique chemical compounds known as cannabinoids. Recently, the cannabinoid known as “cannabigerol” or “CBG” has been gaining serious attention in the industry. However, scientific research on CBG is still in its infancy and the medical community is just beginning to understand potential applications for this new cannabinoid.

Since the cannabinoid CBD has gained so much popularity over the past 5 years, hemp growers, processors, and retailers have been looking for the next big thing. With such a massive market demand for CBD, it only makes sense to expand on the current cannabinoid marketplace. Yet, before the CBG space can realize its potential, there must be a good deal of cannabigerol research conducted.

One of the big challenges that might be slowing down cannabigerol research is that industrial plants typically yield only minute amounts of CBG (about 1% or less). That, however, is changing with the introduction of specialized hemp strains bred to produce more CBG. Strains like High Grade Hemp Seed’s Matterhorn CBG can produce up to 15% CBG, which may help give this under-studied cannabinoid the boost it needs.

Farmers who are considering planting hemp for CBG may wonder, “What are the benefits of CBG?” Though CBG research is still in its infancy, some scientific results have been very promising. High Grade Hemp Seed wanted to walk you through current CBD research and its potential uses for wellness.

CBG and the Endocannabinoid System

In order to understand how CBG might affect the human body, you must first understand the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The ECS is a newly-discovered neural network within the human body. Scientists theorize that the ECS functions to maintain the body’s systems in homeostasis, or a state of balance.

In discovering the ECS, researchers also discovered that the human body produces its own cannabinoids known as “endocannabinoids.” Scientists also realized that endocannabinoid deficiencies can develop into several medical problems. It is precisely this lack of endocannabinoids that can be rectified with the help of cannabinoids from the hemp plant – such as CBG and CBD.

Importantly, the ECS is thought to run throughout the human body, including the nervous system, digestive system, and immune system. The ECS is believed to help regulate:

  • Mood
  • Sleep
  • Appetite
  • Digestion
  • Pain
  • Memory
  • Immune function
  • Pleasure and reward system

The ESC extends throughout the body and so it follows that the effects of cannabinoids would vary according to the location of the receptors. There are two types of receptors: CB1 (in the brain and nervous system) and CB2 ( in the immune system). While other cannabinoids interact with one or the other, CBG appears to bind with both, potentially giving it the power to affect homeostasis in multiple systems.

If studies on the ECS are correct, imbalances in the endocannabinoid system can wreak havoc on your overall wellness. To this end, current CBG health research also implies that the cannabinoid could be extremely helpful in curbing many forms of endocannabinoid deficiencies.

 

1. CBG and Glaucoma

According to the Glaucoma Research Foundation, over three million Americans have glaucoma, a condition in which high ocular pressure damages the optic nerve. Left untreated, glaucoma can cause vision problems and, eventually, blindness.

The human eye is known to host many endocannabinoid receptors. A study published in 2008 found that cannabinoids, including CBG, may help to relieve pressure inside of the eye. This could make CBG an effective treatment for glaucoma. It will be interesting to see where cannabigerol research goes with glaucoma in the coming years.

2. CBG and Cancer

Early-stage research has already shown that CBD can inhibit the spread of breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer cells. Though these studies were conducted on animals and in test tubes, the potential for CBD as a cancer treatment is exciting to say the least.

What about CBG and cancer? Unsurprisingly, little research has looked at how CBG may help fight cancer. One study published in the journal Carcinogenesis, however, did find that CBG might reduce the growth of cancer cells in rats with colon cancer. This early-stage research is promising and should be continued. CBG proponents would love to see institutions put more money into researching the cancer-fighting properties of CBG.

3. CBG and MRSA

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) has become the bane of hospitals, health clinics, and nursing homes. This dangerous bacterial infection is infamous for its ability to resist most antibiotic treatments. In 2017, nearly 120,000 people in the U.S. contracted MRSA, and almost 20,000 died. The hunt is on for an effective MRSA treatment.

Medical researchers are currently looking at CBG as an antibiotic treatment for MRSA. To illustrate, McMaster University conducted a study on the effectiveness of CBD on MRSA. They concluded, “CBG had antibacterial activity against drug-resistant MRSA. It prevented the ability of that bacteria to form biofilms, which are communities of microorganisms that attach to each other and to surfaces.”

It will be interesting to see how CBG health research evolves in the future with treating MRSA.

4. CBG and Huntington’s Disease

Huntington’s disease is a rare and cruel genetic disorder that progressively breaks down nerve cells in the brain. Individuals with the disorder usually start to exhibit symptoms in their 30s or 40s and face a long, slow mental and physical decline.

While there is no current cure for Huntington’s disease, a fascinating study on mice with Huntington’s found that CBG was “extremely active as a neuroprotectant.” CBG’s neuroprotective properties could make it a potential treatment for a variety of neurodegenerative disorders besides just Huntington’s disease.

5. CBG and Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Endocannabinoid receptors are active in the digestive system, so perhaps it shouldn’t be surprising that cannabigerol benefits could extend to certain diseases linked to the gut. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is actually a group of diseases that attack the colon and small intestine. The most well-known IBDs are Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis.

In a study on mice, CBG seemed to reduce the inflammation that is a hallmark of IBD, which could go a long way toward helping alleviate the unpleasant symptoms of IBD. The authors of the study suggest that CBG be considered for clinical experimentation in IBD patients.

6. CBG as an Appetite Stimulant

A study on rats in the journal Psychopharmacology found that CBG was a reliable appetite stimulant. The rats in the study gobbled up more than twice their normal food intake and ate extra meals when taking CBG. The appetite-boosting properties of CBG could be helpful for patients struggling to eat and maintain weight, such as individuals with cancer or HIV.

Appetite stimulation has long been a popular medical application of cannabinoids. The most widely known cannabinoid “tetrahydrocannabinol” (THC) was originally used to help with appetite stimulation for both cancer and AIDS patients. One might argue that THC is so effective in this application that it led to the eventual legalization of medical cannabis in states like California and Colorado.

7. CBG and Bladder Dysfunction

Involuntary bladder contractions are a condition no one wants to experience. A mouse trial of five different cannabinoids found that CBG showed the greatest impact on reducing bladder contractions. The authors of the study also found that CBG reduced bladder contractions in the human bladder.

More CBG Health Research is Needed

While the CBG benefits highlighted in this article are highly promising, it’s important to reiterate that these are all early-stage studies. It should not be assumed that just because CBG showed a certain impact on animals or cell cultures that it will have the same health properties in humans. Even more, we want to stress the fact that CBG products should only be purchased from highly reputable sources.

There is no doubt that CBG holds great promise for the medical community. However, to realize the latent potential of CBG, doctors and researchers must conduct well-funded human trials. As the CBG industry continues to gain momentum, we hope that the medical community will give this little-known cannabinoid the attention it requires.

The growth of the CBD industry is nothing short of spectacular. Just a few short years ago, “cannabidiol” (CBD), was an obscure cannabinoid only known to select groups of cultivators and scientists. In like fashion, hemp was federally illegal and only valued for its fibers and seeds.

Today, things look much different for hemp and CBD. The worldwide CBD market was valued at an astounding $2.8 billion in the year 2020. Even more, global hunger for “everything CBD” has stimulated the growth of a massive hemp industry, including growers, processors, and retail stores. While such amazing growth is exciting, it is easy to lose sight of the fact that CBD helps people.

People from around the world use CBD to treat both physical and mental ailments. Yet, the FDA has only approved a single CBD medicine – that being epidiolex. This drug is made from synthetic CBD and is prescribed exclusively for seizure patients. Beyond epidiolex, our understanding of the cannabinoid from new CBD research and patient testimonials.

While we continue to wait on formal FDA recognition of CBD, there are a myriad of intriguing findings that show great promise for the cannabinoid. High Grade Hemp Seed is excited to see where CBD research studies will lead us in the future.

A Growing Understanding of CBD and the Human Body

The cannabis plant contains over 100 chemical compounds, known as cannabinoids. Because hemp has been illegal to grow in the United States for so long, there is precious little research on many of hemp’s medical properties. That is quickly changing.

CBD research studies are revealing a growing list of potential health benefits. The width and breadth of these benefits likely has to do with how CBD interacts with the body’s endocannabinoid system.

Introducing the Endocannabinoid System

One of the most exciting advances that has come directly from cannabinoid research has been the discovery of a biochemical communication system within the human body known as the endocannabinoid system.

Scientists are just beginning to understand this intricate and complex system, which helps to regulate:

  • Mood
  • Sleep
  • Appetite
  • Memory
  • Fertility

Endocannabinoid receptors are found throughout the body and have been shown to respond to cannabinoids, like CBD. This can help explain why CBD research has shown so many varied effects throughout the body.

What are the health benefits of CBD? Researchers are just starting to answer that question. Here is what we know about the potential medical benefits of CBD.

 

1. CBD and Pain Research

Many CBD advocates swear that CBD makes their aches and pains disappear, but what does the science actually say on this matter? The available research does seem to support the fact that CBD can offer pain-relieving properties. A double-blind study of 58 patients with rheumatoid arthritis found that patients who took Sativex, a nasal spray that includes both THC and CBD, reported significantly less pain than the placebo group. Additionally, a study on rats found that rodents who received injections of CBD seemed to feel less pain in response to surgical incisions.

What is behind the pain-relieving properties of CBD? It all comes back to the endocannabinoid system. Researchers hypothesize that CBD (and possibly other cannabinoids) may impact endocannabinoid receptor activity and interact with neurotransmitters in the brain responsible for feeling pain. Writing for the Harvard Health blog, Dr. Grinspoon explains that CBD has been shown to impact both inflammatory and neuropathic pain, which are the two most difficult types of chronic pain to treat.

Importantly, CBD could offer relief for pain sufferers who have fallen victim to the opioid epidemic. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services website, “In 2019 … 9.7 million people misused prescription pain relievers.” Unfortunately, many of these people got introduced to painkillers through a legitimate medical need, which eventually led to addiction. If CBD could help a fraction of these people find relief from their pain, it would be a wild success.

2. CBD and Anxiety Research

With a third of Americans now showing signs of clinical anxiety or depression, it’s more important than ever to understand what treatment options are available, especially for people who prefer natural remedies. In some cases, CBD may be the answer.

A double-blind study of 57 Brazilian men found that those who took 300 mg. of CBD felt significantly less anxiety during a simulated public speaking test than those who took a placebo. What’s interesting is that the same effects were not seen in subjects who took 150 mg. of CBD or 600 mg. of CBD, so dosing is an important consideration.

In a fascinating CBD case study in The Permanente Journal, researchers explain how CBD oil helped a young girl with post-traumatic stress disorder lower her anxiety and improve her sleep. Similarly, in the United States, many military veterans report relief from PTSD symptoms through the use of CBD.

3. CBD and Epilepsy

CBD has long since been proven to be an effective treatment for epilepsy. The only FDA-approved CBD drug in existence, epidiolex, is regularly prescribed to treat cases of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome. Both severe childhood epilepsy conditions greatly hinder the overall quality of life for sufferers. Due to the fact many of these patients are resistant to anti-seizure medications, CBD has given them a new lease on life through epidiolex.

One of the most well-researched medical benefits of CBD is its ability to effectively treat symptoms of epilepsy. CBD has been used in cases of Dravet syndrome and Lennox-Gastaut syndrome, severe childhood epilepsy conditions that are often resistant to anti-seizure medications. In a landmark double-blind study published in the New England Journal of Medicine, researchers found that an oral solution of CBD was able to lower seizures in children with Dravet syndrome. The median frequency of seizures per month decreased from 12.4 to 5.9 in the study group, while the decrease in seizures in the control group was minimal. It is studies like these that have made CBD increasingly accepted in the eyes of mainstream medicine.

4. CBD and Multiple Sclerosis

Nearly one million people in the United States over the age of 18 live with multiple sclerosis, a disease where the immune system eats away at nerve coverings, causing disabling nerve damage throughout the body.

A tragic hallmark of the disease is a muscle spasticity, which happens when the muscles stiffen and can’t be relaxed or stretched. Muscle spasticity can impede movement and speech and even make it difficult or impossible for a person to walk. A study that used Sativex on a group of 276 people with MS found that nearly 75% of the research subjects reported less muscle spasticity, offering needed relief and increased quality of life.

5. CBD and Heart Health

Can CBD health benefits include an improvement in overall health and wellness? One promising study points to the fact that CBD may help lower blood pressure. High blood pressure is an indicator of heart disease and can lead to strokes and heart attacks.

This small CBD case study recruited nine healthy men to take a single 600 mg. dose of CBD oil. Even after just one dose, the men showed a lower resting blood pressure when compared to the placebo group. The men who took the CBD oil also showed a lower increase in blood pressure when put under a stress test.

6. CBD and Cancer Treatment Symptoms

For years, doctors and scientists have been searching for ways to help cancer feel better during treatment. Chemotherapy often leaves patients feeling weak, nauseated, and in pain. THC has long been used to help counteract these unpleasant cancer treatment side effects, but can a non-intoxicating cannabinoid like CBD also help?

A small, double-blind study published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology recruited patients undergoing chemotherapy treatment and gave them a combination of THC and CBD. Patients who received the THC and CBD reported fewer side effects from the chemotherapy than the placebo group.

7. Other Exciting Potential CBD Health Benefits

Many of the most exciting CBD research is still in the early stages. These studies have been conducted on test tube samples or in animals. While these avenues of research have a ways to go until they reach human trials, the results are still worth mentioning. These studies go to show that there is still so much we have to learn about CBD and how it affects the human body.

  • CBD and Cancer

Don’t believe anyone who says that CBD can cure cancer; however, test tube studies and animal studies have found that CBD can inhibit the spread of breast, prostate, colon, and lung cancer. Much more research must be done in this area, so keep your eyes peeled for more advanced studies in the future.

  • CBD and Substance Abuse

Substance abuse and addiction are a dark reality for an estimated 22 million Americans. So many struggle and fail to break free of their addictions. CBD may be able to help. A review of 14 studies, including animal studies and pre-clinical human studies, found that CBD may offer therapeutic properties related to addictions to opioids, cocaine, and psychostimulants. Some data even suggests CBD could help with tobacco addiction.

  • CBD and Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease that affects 34.2 million people in the U.S. and can dramatically lower quality of life and lifespan. A promising study of diabetic rats found that CBD treatment lowered the incidence of diabetes by 56% and also reduced inflammation related to diabetes.

  • CBD and Acne

Sebum is an oily substance secreted by the skin. When the skin produces too much sebum, it can block pores and lead to acne. Those with blemished skin can take heart in a test tube study that found CBD oil stopped sebaceous gland cells from creating too much sebum. The CBD also had an anti-inflammatory effect.

What Is the Future of CBD Research?

The CBD industry is here to stay. Yet, while thousands of patients report profound positive impacts from CBD, we are still waiting on formal approval from the FDA. As the CBD continues to gain mainstream acceptance, many hope it will eventually replace harmful pharmaceutical drugs such as painkillers and sleeping pills. However, we must be patient as the medical field works towards eventual approval through its CBD research studies.

Whether you are a medical patient curious about CBD, or a hemp grower interested in CBD seeds, it worthwhile studying the potential applications of the cannabinoid. In doing so, you can make educated decisions on whether to consume CBD or grow CBD hemp.

At High Grade Hemp Seed, you can bet we’ll keep an eye on all the emerging CBD research studies for you. In the meantime, contact us today to learn about our many high CBD strains of hemp.

Interested in growing hemp for CBD or CBG? You’ll need to learn as much as you can about the hemp plant itself. That starts with understanding the difference between male and female hemp plants.

Every hemp farmer must be able to identify males and females out in the field. Why? Because if your goal is to produce as much resin as possible (which can be processed for its CBD or CBG), then it’s all about the ladies. Keep reading to learn why your profits lay with female hemp plants.

Male vs. Female Hemp Plants

Hemp (also known as cannabis) is a dioecious plant, meaning that individual plants form female or male reproductive organs. Hemp plants can be male, female, or hermaphrodite.

Many hemp farmers would love to be able to tell whether a hemp seed will eventually grow into a male hemp plant or a female.  This is possible through DNA testing of a seedling that is just a few weeks along. Outside of this genetic test, the way to tell a hemp seed’s sex is to plant it in the ground and wait four to six weeks until the hemp plant reaches the “pre-flower” stage.

At around six weeks of growth, farmers should be able to accurately sex their plants by looking closely at the crux of the plants’ branches, also known as the plants’ “nodes.” Male hemp plants grow small pollen sacs at their nodes, while female hemp plants grow bracts. As the female plant matures, wispy, hair-like stigma grow from her bracts, which catch the pollen released by the male. Hermaphrodite hemp plants will typically grow both male and female sex organs.

The Problem with Male Hemp Plants in Your Fields

In order to harvest as much resin as possible from your hemp crop, you must cull your male hemp plants and prevent pollination of your females. That’s because your resin crop resides in the flowers of your female hemp plants.

As a female plant matures, she grows flowers, or buds. While both male and female hemp plants produce small quantities of resin in their leaves, the vast majority of resin is produced in the flowers of female hemp plants. The flowers are what CBD and CBG farmers harvest, and are the ticket to your resin crop.

When male plants successfully pollinate female hemp plants, the females grow seeds in their buds. The energy it takes for females to create seeds is energy they can’t use to create more resin. Unsurprisingly, pollinated females are smaller than unpollinated females and produce far less resin. Additionally, seeded flowers are a hassle for farmers. No customer wants to buy seeded buds (which can make smoking the buds a harsh and unpleasant experience), and de-seeding buds is time-intensive and expensive.

 

How Can Farmers Prevent Male Hemp Plants from Pollinating Their Females?

Farmers who buy regular hemp seeds (which include a mix of male and female plants) will need to figure out whether each plant is a hemp male or female in order to prevent the males from pollinating the females. They will have to plant their seeds, wait until the plants reach the pre-flower stage in four to six weeks, and sex all their plants. Early in the pre-flower stage, the sex organs of male and female hemp plants can be difficult to distinguish. Some farmers like to use a magnifying glass to help them successfully sex their plants. Another option is to wait toward the end of the pre-flower stage when the sex organs are easier to see, but farmers must be careful. If they wait too long, their hemp plants could mature, and the males could pollinate the females.

When a farmer identifies a male plant, that plant should be culled from the field. This system is time- and labor-intensive, especially if you plan on planting several acres or more of hemp. It also requires you to essentially eliminate half your crop after spending four to six weeks cultivating it.

Farmers who want to sex their plants earlier have another option: they can work with one of several labs across the country to sex their plants. However, this option is expensive and is not practical for large-scale industrial hemp farmers.

One final option that many hemp farmers choose is to invest in feminized hemp seeds or feminized hemp starts.

Male Hemp Plant

A Quick Note About Hermaphrodites

As we mentioned, hermaphrodites contain the sex organs of both male and female hemp plants. That means they also have the ability to pollinate female plants and should be culled from your fields along with your males.

Some hermaphrodites are the result of poor seed genetics, but hemp plants can also become hermaphrodites as a result of trauma or stress. Some of the most common triggers that cause plants to “herm out” are:

  • Disease
  • Bad weather
  • Nutrient deficiencies
  • High temperatures
  • Inconsistent lighting (when growing indoors)
  • Plant damage

If your plants have undergone stress, like a major weather event, or you notice plants with damage, such as broken branches, take the time to check to see if they are hermaphrodites and need to be culled.

 

Should You Consider Buying Feminized Seeds?

One of the simplest ways to keep male hemp plants out of your fields is to invest in feminized hemp seeds. Feminized hemp seeds are selectively bred to grow into female plants exclusively. Top hemp seed companies have been able to achieve feminization rates of nearly 100%, though no company can guarantee entirely female seeds.

Feminized seeds tend to be more expensive than a regular batch of seeds, usually double the price or more, depending on which hemp strain you purchase. However, consider the fact that buying regular seeds means you’ll need to cull approximately half your crop and the price difference isn’t so great. Feminized hemp seeds will also save you the trouble of all the labor that goes into culling your males.

Here at High Grade Hemp Seed, we’ve achieved a feminization rate of 99.8%. That’s really good, but it means you should still double-check all of your plants when they reach the pre-flower stage. Even a few males can pollinate a large number of female hemp plants (the wind can carry their pollen across your entire field). Feminized hemp seeds can be a great way to dramatically lower the number of male hemp plants in your field, but they can’t eliminate them.

A final option is to invest in feminized hemp starts. These germinated hemp plants are still too young to sex, but since they are grown from feminized seeds, you can expect the same high rates of feminization from your starts as you would from feminized seeds. Feminized starts are a great option for newer farmers and those without a greenhouse infrastructure. Every start has a strong taproot, which will help the plant stay healthy and strong once you’ve planted it in the field.

Feminized Hemp Seed

In Defense of Male Hemp Plants

Lest you think we’ve been too hard on males in this article, at High Grade Hemp Seed, we actually love male hemp plants. They are a central part of our crossbreeding process. Male hemp plants allow us to constantly test and breed for new strains of hemp, including exciting, industry-changing strains like our Matterhorn CBG or boutique strains like our Cherry Wine and Berry Blossom.

For most hemp farmers who do not plan on creating new hemp plant crossbreeds, however, male hemp plants have no place in their fields. For that reason, we only sell feminized hemp seeds and feminized hemp starts. We believe that offering feminized seeds and starts gives hemp farmers the best chance for success and will earn them more in the long run when compared with regular seeds.

Got Questions?

Hopefully, now that you understand the difference between male and female hemp plants, you understand the value of feminized hemp seeds. Have more questions about male vs. female hemp plants? Contact us. We’d love to help you learn more about hemp seed genetics as you plan your next hemp crop.

As the cannabis and hemp industries continue to gain acceptance in the mainstream, there has been an increased interest in cannabinoids. With a surge in popularity for both CBD and THC, cannabis and hemp have become big business. Looking specifically at the hemp-derived CBD space, national legalization has attracted the attention of major players in the retail business, as well as health and wellness. Today, you can find CBD products on the shelves of major retail stores such as Kroeger, CVS, and Neiman Marcus.

With such a massive interest in CBD products, horticulturists, scientists, and business people alike have been on the hunt for the “next big cannabinoid.” All eyes are now turning to another non-psychoactive cannabinoid known as “cannabigerol” or CBG.

As a leader in seed production, High Grade Hemp Seed always keeps a close eye on new developments in the industry. As such, we wanted to give you an overview of the new cannabinoid CBG and help you understand how it is different from CBD.

Here’s what you need to know.

The CBG Cannabinoid Explained

Hemp contains hundreds of cannabinoids. The two most well-known compounds are tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). As research on cannabinoids has expanded, many researchers and health industry experts have begun looking into CBG.

CBG has been referred to as “the mother cannabinoid.” When a hemp plant is young, it produces cannabigerolic acid (CBGA). This compound then breaks down into cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and tetrahydrocannabinolic acid (THCA) as the plant matures. Without digging too deep into the science, the CBDA and THCA are then converted into CBD and THC, which can be extracted from the buds and resin of the hemp plant after harvest. The leftover amount of CBGA is also converted into CBG.

Understanding the basics of this process is important for farmers because it helps to explain why CBG cannabinoid is more difficult (but also potentially more lucrative) to cultivate. As leaders in CBG hemp breeding, High Grade Hemp Seed is in a unique position to offer this advice.

 

CBG vs. CBD Hemp

How do CBD and CBG compare to each other? First, let’s look at some of the similarities between CBD and CBG. For starters, both CBG and CBD are non-intoxicating, unlike THC. This makes both CBD and CBG popular compounds for those who want the health benefits cannabinoids can offer without the psychoactive side effects of THC.

Early research also seems to indicate that CBG and CBD may possess some overlapping health benefits as well as unique benefits. Both cannabinoids interact with the body’s endocannabinoid system, which plays a role in regulating:

  • Mood
  • Memory
  • Sleep
  • Reproduction
  • Appetite

In a nutshell, the endocannabinoid system works to stabilize the body’s internal environment, which could be the reason research shows that CBD affects so many different parts of the body and impacts a variety of conditions. While we know that both CBD and CBG influence the endocannabinoid system, there has been far more research into CBD. As such, a big reason why CBG remains so obscure is an overall lack of research. This notion is particularly true for human subjects.

Recently, scientists have turned their attention to CBG. While these studies are still in their infancy, they have yielded some interesting results. For example, research has shown CBG to have “analgesic and anti-inflammatory” properties. As such, CBG could prove to be an effective pain medicine and alternative to addictive prescription drugs. We still have a long way to go, but these positive results surely mean that advanced studies on CBG effects are in the works.

Growing and Producing CBG Hemp

Why is CBD so much more popular than CBG? Why is there so much more research on CBD and so many more CBD products? The answer is simple: CBG has historically been very difficult and expensive to farm.

Remember how we told you that CBG is “the mother cannabinoid” and that CBGA breaks down into THCA and CBDA as a hemp plant matures? The more that CBGA turns into other cannabinoids, the less CBG remains. Hemp farmers who want to cultivate CBG traditionally had to harvest their hemp crop early before the plants could mature very much. This meant that farmers gave up on the chance to cultivate CBD in order to grow CBG.

Until recent advancements in hemp breeding, plants have traditionally produced low amounts of CBG. To illustrate, early hemp strains only produced <1% of CBG within a plant. This statistic stands in stark contradiction to high-CBD strains, which contain as much as 10-16% of CBD.

If that weren’t bad enough, levels of CBG were so low in hemp plants that many farmers were forced to invest in specialized production equipment to isolate and purify CBG extract. Otherwise, they paid higher prices for third-party extraction.

As CBG is such a novel cannabinoid, most hemp farmers are not yet focusing on CBG production. Therefore, CBG fetches a far higher price tag in the open market. A 2020 study suggests that while CBD earns $2,000 per kilogram, the same amount of CBG can bring around $30,000. That’s over five times the value of CBD.

Even with the promise of such a big potential payday, farmers may still be hesitant to take the risk of trying to cultivate CBG. Fortunately, hemp genetics is advancing at a breakneck pace, and several strains of CBG hemp have recently hit the market.

All About CBG Hemp Strains

Hemp breeders like High Grade Hemp Seed, are working hard to develop hemp plants that produce more CBG. To illustrate, our customers love our Matterhorn CBG strain. Remember how traditional hemp plants could only produce 1% CBG concentrate? With Matterhorn, we have upped CBG concentrations to an astounding 15% potential. This amazing new strain gives hemp farmers the ability to generate serious profit by growing specifically for CBG.

Farmers who are considering cultivating CBG strains need to do their homework. Many of the CBG hemp seeds coming to market are brand new strains, and there are always disreputable companies that make big promises their seeds can’t keep. Do your research on a seed company before making a sizable investment. Work with a hemp seed company that has been around for several years and that has a good reputation for their other hemp seed strains.

It’s also a good idea to invest in feminized CBG seeds. You’ll pay a little more upfront, but you will save time and heartache by planting 100% female hemp plants. Even more, you can avoid the extra labor expenses of removing male plants from your crop.

If you haven’t planted hemp before, or if you don’t have a greenhouse infrastructure on your property, you should consider choosing CBG seed starts. By starting with seedling plants, eliminate the extra work and materials needed to sprout seeds. At High Grade Hemp Seed, our seed starts also come with a strong taproot that will help your plants stay healthy throughout your growing season.

Should I Grow CBG Hemp?

Is cultivating CBG worth the extra investment, work, and risk? A different way to think about these questions is by considering the value of diversifying your crop. CBD is a hot commodity now, but an increasing number of farmers are cultivating CBD flowers.

At High Grade Hemp Seed, we believe CBD hemp will always be worth planting and will still give farmers a great ROI. However, we also know it never hurts to diversify your income. CBG hemp can both complement and hedge against CBD prices and can also position you at the very forefront of the CBG market. Some of the latest cannabinoid studies have found that CBD and CBG create a stronger, positive health effect when taken together.

If CBG becomes as hot as CBD, farmers who are experienced in growing high-yield CBG strains, like Matterhorn CBG, will be in a great position to feed a growing demand, especially for a previously hard-to-produce product.

Contact us today to learn more about our Matterhorn CBG or any of our CBD hemp strains. Our knowledgeable representatives can tell you all about how to grow Matterhorn CBG and how CBG hemp differs from CBD hemp. We are happy to discuss your crop plans and answer any questions you might have.

The profitability of a crop is often made or lost on the margins, which is why choosing seeds with good genetic qualities is one of the fundamental keys to farming success. If you are planning to farm hemp, what hemp genetics should you be searching for in your seeds? Let’s take a look at the most important genetic qualities farmers should evaluate before investing in hemp seeds.

Crop Yield

One of the first decisions a farmer must make when farming hemp is what crop they want to harvest. Hemp is a versatile plant that can, depending on the strain, produce different crops, including grains, fibers, smokable flowers, and resin that is used to create CBD or CBG oil. CBD oil offers farmers the best return on investment and is, unsurprisingly, an extremely popular crop to harvest.

Once you’ve decided what hemp crop you want to harvest, look for hemp seeds that have been bred to increase your chosen crop yield. For example, many seed companies (including High Grade Hemp Seed) have performed years of hemp breeding to develop seeds that produce high levels of CBD oil or CBG oil. Choosing seeds that can increase your yield by even just five percent could boost your profits by hundreds, maybe even thousands of dollars per acre.

Hemp Genetics Spotlight – Matterhorn CBG

The Matterhorn CBG hemp strain is a great example of seed genetics designed to increase crop yields. Using hemp breeding, Matterhorn CBG was developed specifically to produce CBG oil (one of the first seeds ever bred for CBG production). Typical hemp plants produce notoriously low amounts of CBG oil, but Matterhorn CBG can produce up to 15% CBG extract.

Feminization

CBD and CBG oil are harvested from the flowers of female hemp plants. Male plants produce only trace amounts of the valuable resin (which produces the oil when extracted), and are not worth harvesting. Worse, male plants pollinate female plants, drastically lowering their yield of CBD and CBG oil. That means even a few male plants in a field can pollinate many females, dramatically lowering a farmer’s profit. (Take a look at our article all about the value of feminized hemp seeds.)

While male hemp plants are useful for hemp breeding, they are dangerous intruders in a field being grown for crops. That is why it can be invaluable for farmers to invest in feminized hemp seeds. Feminized hemp seeds grow exclusively into female plants, giving farmers the peace of mind that their plants will generate income instead of stealing it away. (Note: Even the best seed companies can’t guarantee a 100% feminization of their seeds, but they can come close. Look for seeds with at least a 99% feminization rate.)

 

Robustness

Every planting season contains hidden risks. Farmers can’t control the rain or heat or prevent severe weather events. To help manage those risks, one thing farmers can do is invest in seed genetics that promote overall robustness in their hemp plants.

Hemp seeds bred for robustness can better withstand rough weather, including cold, heat, drought, and rain. This means farmers are more likely to see a profit each year rather than have to deal with the rollercoaster of boom and bust crop cycles depending on what Mother Nature decides.

Hemp Genetics Spotlight – Berry Blossom

Berry Blossom is an industry-standard hemp strain lauded for its ability to handle even the roughest conditions. Its robustness makes it one of the most popular hemp strains on the market.

Finishing Time

Hemp plants grown for CBD and CBG oil typically require 108 to 120 of growth after germination until they can be harvested. One challenge farmers face in planting many fields with the same strain of hemp seed is that all the fields need the same attention at the same time. The planting of all the seeds must be done within a small window of time. The same is true when it comes time to harvest the crop.

Harvesting can be especially tricky, because if farmers wait too long, a crop’s THC levels could rise above the legal limit, making the crop worthless. New hemp strains have been bred to grow and mature more quickly. This much-appreciated trait allows farmers to stagger their harvest, giving them the ability to use labor much more efficiently.

Additionally, seeds with fast finishing times are an ideal choice for farmers who live in areas with shorter growing seasons, like Colorado, where early fall or late summer frosts can put an entire crop at risk.

Hemp Genetics Spotlight – Autoflower

The Autoflower hemp strain is a great example of seed genetics designed for rapid growth. Autoflowers can reach harvesting maturity in just 70 to 75 days after emergence. That’s weeks faster than typical hemp strains, which can give farmers more flexibility in their planting and harvesting schedules.

Terpene Profile

Terpenes are the aromatic compounds found in a female hemp plant’s flower along with CBD and CBG oil. Every hemp strain possesses its own “terpene profile.” Terpene profiles vary dramatically. Some hemp plants are notable for their floral bouquets while others are famous for loud notes of cheese or even skunk.

A hemp plant’s terpene profile is determined by its seed genetics, and farmers should consider this quality when they evaluate different hemp strains. Your crop’s terpene profile will affect your clientele options and downstream market opportunities. For example, some clients love skunky hemp buds, while others prefer fruity or floral scents.

Hemp Genetics Spotlight – Red Bordeaux

The Red Bordeaux hemp strain is popular, in part, for its pleasant terpene profile of fresh cut strawberries and crushed lavender. Smokers of the plant’s bud can even discover hints of cherry and gasoline in this unique strain.

Legal Compliance

A unique challenge of industrial hemp farming is that farmers must ensure that their hemp crop possesses less than 0.3% of THC. Plants that exceed this limit cannot be legally harvested and sold as industrial hemp.

Keeping plants below this threshold starts with choosing the right seeds. Many farmers believe that external factors like soil chemistry, extreme weather, or other stressors can cause hemp plants to “go hot” and produce too much THC.

However, new research from Cornell University suggests that THC levels are determined in large part by a seed’s genes. That makes it more important than ever to choose hemp seeds from strains with proven low levels of THC. Of course, even with the best seed genetics, you’ll still need to continuously monitor the THC level of your crop and make sure you harvest your plants before their THC levels rise above the legal limit.

Consider Genes, Not Hype

Seed genetics really can make or break your hemp farm, which is why it’s so important that you do your homework before you purchase your seeds. Research the genetic profiles of your seeds and invest in the best hemp genetics you can find.
When comparing different hemp seeds, look at:

  • Average CBD or CBG oil yield
  • Feminization rates
  • Robustness
  • Finishing speed
  • Terpene profile
  • THC levels

The top hemp seed companies have spent years working with highly-trained scientists and farmers to conduct their hemp breeding programs in order to develop hemp seed strains with attributes farmers want. Representatives from these companies should be happy to discuss their hemp strains and point you to the hemp strains with the genetics best suited for the conditions on your farm.

It’s always a good idea to work directly with companies that develop their own seeds rather than seed resellers. With resellers, you never really know what you’re going to get. At High Grade Hemp Seed, we’ve been passionately developing new and unique hemp seed strains since 2011. Our seeds are renowned for their robustness and their unique terpene profiles. We offer a variety of early finisher hemp strains and provide a feminization rate of over 99.8%.

Contact us today. We can’t wait to talk about hemp genetics with you!

If you’re considering planting hemp in the near future, you may have heard about companies that sell feminized hemp seeds. You may have also heard that feminized seeds are more expensive than “regular” seeds. What are feminized seeds, and why do they sell for a higher price? More importantly, are feminized hemp seeds worth the extra cost?

A Quick Lesson on Hemp Seed Biology

To understand why feminized seeds are so valuable to hemp farmers, it helps to know a little bit about hemp plant biology.

Some plants in the natural world are hermaphroditic, meaning they have both male and female attributes and can reproduce by themselves. Hemp plants, on the other hand, are usually either female or male. (Note: During periods of high stress, a hemp plant can turn hermaphroditic.) Male hemp plants create pollen, which they use to pollinate female plants. Female hemp plants produce flowers, and when females are pollinated, their flowers fill with seeds.

While male hemp plants produce trace amounts of CBD and CBG oil, female hemp plants produce much, much more! The largest quantities of CBD and CBG oil develop in the flowers of female hemp plants.

Why Male Hemp Plants Can Destroy Your CBD or CBG Extract Crop

Male hemp plants are useful and valuable in certain situations. For example, at High Grade Hemp Seed, we need male hemp plants to pollinate our females so we can successfully crossbreed our plants and develop new and exciting hemp strains for our customers.

However, if you are farming hemp for CBD or CBG oil, male hemp plants have no place in your fields. In fact, they can significantly lower your crop yield.

When a male pollinates a female hemp plant, she diverts much of her energy to producing seeds—that’s energy she could have used to produce more CBD and CBG-rich resin. Pollinated female plants produce much less CBD and CBG resin. Their flowers are also filled with seeds, meaning farmers will have to spend extra time and money to deseed their flowers before processing.

Even just a few male hemp plants can spread their pollen across a field, pollinating a good portion of your female plants and dramatically lowering your CBD or CBG oil yield. Considering that current research suggests that experienced hemp farmers could earn up to $40,000 of income per acre of hemp, lowering your yield even by just 20% due to pollination could translate into $8,000 of lost profit per acre.

How can you prevent male hemp plants from growing in your field and pollinating your females? You guessed it: feminized hemp seeds.

What Are Feminized Hemp Seeds?

What does the term “feminized seeds” mean? Simply put, feminized seeds grow exclusively into female plants. Feminized seed companies, like High Grade Hemp Seed, use specialized methods to ensure that their seeds are “feminized” and only produce female hemp plants.

It’s important to note that no company can guarantee a feminization rate of 100%; however, certain feminization methods are highly reliable, which means that top seed companies can offer feminization rates of around 99%.

 

How Do Companies Create Feminized Seeds?

There are several different ways to create feminized hemp seeds with a high level of success. Every company’s method is a little different, and those methods are closely guarded. Two common techniques incorporate stress and silver.

  • Feminization through Stress

By carefully stressing female plants, usually by interrupting the plant’s light cycle, researchers can prod the plant into producing seeds that copy her own genes. This process virtually guarantees that the seeds will grow into female plants.

  • Feminization with Silver

Researchers have developed several different formulas that incorporate silver and other elements (such as sodium thiosulfate), which can be applied directly to seeds to trigger a gene change, turning female plants into male plants. Sounds strange, right? But when these newly transformed males pollinate female plants, they produce only female seeds.

As you can see, it takes a lot of work, effort, and expertise to develop feminized hemp seeds, which explains why they are more expensive than an order of regular hemp seeds.

Are Feminized Seeds Worth the Extra Price?

Many farmers believe feminized hemp seeds are well worth the extra upfront cost and are willing to make the investment. Here are some of the main reasons they choose feminized seeds in the USA:

Less Worry

When you choose feminized hemp seeds, you don’t have to worry about a few stray male hemp plants pollinating your crop and undercutting your profits.

Better Forecasting

When you know you’re planting feminized seeds, you can better estimate your crop yield and forecast profits. That will allow you to more effectively budget for expenses and negotiate with your buyers.

Higher Profits

The most valuable benefit of investing in feminized seeds is that you will almost certainly see a higher profit for your investment. Consider that normalized hemp seeds are likely to contain a similar number of males and females. That means that you’ll need to eliminate roughly half of your crop with each planting, cutting your ROI in half. When you use feminized hemp seeds, you know that over 99% of seeds that germinate will grow into a CBD or CBG resin producer for you.

Less Work

If you choose to plant regular hemp seeds, you’ll have to wait up to six weeks until the plants reach the preflower stage. Only at this time will you be able to accurately sex your plants. You’ll need to take the extra time to assess every plant and cull the males.

No Seeds

Female hemp plants that aren’t pollinated never grow seeds in their flowers, meaning you can cut and cure the entire flower or sell the flowers (or “buds”) directly to your customers. With pollinated females, you would have to deseed the flower, which takes time away from your product hitting the market.

Better Protection

Hemp plants grow rapidly and, when planted in well-designed rows, can create a canopy that protects them from weeds and even some pests. If you have to cull a bunch of male plants from your rows, you’ll destroy the canopy, leaving your remaining plants more vulnerable to invasive weeds and damaging pests.

Should Farmers Consider Buying Regular Hemp Seeds?

Is there any reason for you to consider investing in regular hemp seeds instead of feminized hemp seeds? The primary benefit of purchasing regular hemp seeds is their lower price.

Farmers who are working on a tight budget and who don’t mind doing the extra work of culling the male plants from their fields may want to think about using regular seeds.

However, buying regular hemp seeds comes with big risks, especially for farmers who are new to hemp cultivation.

There is no reliable way to tell the difference between male and female hemp seeds, which means you’ll have to plant your seeds and sex your plants when they reach the preflower stage.

It can be difficult for inexperienced hemp farmers to find the small pollen sacs of male plants or the wispy pistils of female plants. We can’t emphasize enough that if you miss even a few males and they pollinate your females, you’ll see a major reduction in the amount of CBD or CBG oil your females produce.

Make Sure to Choose a Reputable Feminized Seed Company

Many hemp seed companies are eager to offer feminized seeds because they can sell those seeds at a higher price.

However, not every seed company can deliver on its lofty promises of high feminization rates.

If you talk to enough hemp farmers, you’re bound to hear a few horror stories of farmers who paid premium prices for feminized hemp seeds, only to watch many males sprout up in their fields and threaten their crop yield.

Before you invest your hard-earned money in feminized seeds, check out the reputation of your seed company.

You’ll want to work with a company that offers a feminization rate of at least 99%.

Make sure the company has been around for at least a few years and has good customer reviews.

We also strongly encourage you to buy seeds directly from the originator, not a seed resale company.

Not sure where to find the best feminized seeds for hemp?

High Grade Hemp Seed has been in business since 2011, and the only hemp seeds we sell are feminized seeds. We’ve achieved a feminization rate of 99.8%, and offer a variety of different hemp strains, including our new Matterhorn CBG strain designed to produce CBG resin for extraction.

Contact us today to learn more about our feminization rates and to discuss which hemp strain is the best option for your farm.